[Environmental monitoring and health monitoring for personnel exposed to inhalation anesthetics].

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this study is to verify the results of medical surveillance for personnel exposed to inhaled anaesthetics in operating rooms (300 exposed), and estimate the level of pollution in operating theatres of a university hospital.

METHOD

Determination of the baseline and final value of the environmental anaesthetics by infrared photoacoustic spectroscopy; medical check-up and blood tests.

RESULTS

During our observation we found in all rooms (new rooms and older rooms) values of nitrous oxide and isoflurane acceptable, all the anaesthetic's concentration are below the limits proposed by C.M. number 5 of the 14/03/89. Personnel reported subjective symptoms especially anxiety, but no blood alteration related to exposure were found.

CONCLUSIONS

Technical precautions as use of low flow system, replacement of nitrous oxide with air, careful check of anaesthetic machine, and behavioral rules have decreased the emission of anaesthetics in the environment. Blood tests are found are not a valid index of possible damage caused by exposure. A large percentage of anaesthesiologists are found to have anxiety.